Tennis Goddess Maria Sharapova Wows on the Cover of SHAPE

Maria Sharapova doesn’t win big on the tennis court without working hard. The stunning 6'2" Russian tennis pro, sporting fall’s hottest fashion, reveals her grand-slam routine in the September issue of SHAPE. She puts in two tennis workouts per day, each lasting one to two hours, on top of an hour and a half of shoulder rehab, and either an ice bath or a sports massage. And her striking physique is all thanks to her sport, not a crazy diet. In fact, the pro admits she’s never counted a single calorie. “I do weigh myself, though, to make sure I’m hydrated before matches because I sweat so much,” she says. “Water is a huge part of my diet. I have to force myself to drink it,” she says.

This month, the 26-year-old star is ready to step up at the U.S. Open in New York after a tough loss in the second round of Wimbledon. “It’s my favorite place to play—the energy, the people in the crowds, the excitement. It’s one of the biggest stages for the tennis world.”

There’s no doubt she’ll put on a show for the sport. After all, Sharapova’s made her mark on the court for the past 22 years with more than just her backhand. A ringtone called Screamapova features her signature scream-grunt hybrid. “I’ve been doing it since I was quite young, so now it’s a habit. I don’t even think about it when I play,” she says.

So what does Sharapova eat to keep herself super charged for the court? She steers clear of gluten, packs on the protein, and loves her country’s staple borscht, a beet soup, that she enjoys with meat and sour cream. When she splurges, she goes for fish tacos with spicy sauce and guacamole.

Pick up the September issue of SHAPE to learn more about Maria's passions off the court, and to get the workout that helps chisel those fab abs. The magazine will be available on iPad and newsstands nationwide on August 19.